TF Views

I neglected to put up a round 12 thread before, but now we have 2 and a half weeks to get questions together (I thought I needed to send them in today) so let's get started on the next round of questions for Hasbro.

The turn-in date is August 9th, so I'll need questions by August 8th.

I scrambled partway through the last thread and only found this question so far, please remind me of others, or add new ones! And don't forget to vote.

1. - Several recent Transformers have come with sword accessories. However the plastic used to make these swords tends to warp and bend easily. Examples include Vector Prime from the Cybertron line and Bludgeon from Revenge of the Fallen. Obviously, Hasbro's concerns for consumer safety is a chief criteria for choosing the type of plastic used for accessories like these, but in the specific examples we cited, why is the plastic so much softer than other Transformers' swords? Is it possible to use something less prone to warping and still meet safety standards? And could future scabbards for these sword accessories be designed with a little more clearance so as to not warp the production versions of those accessories?
2. - With another Transformers movie line coming up, the line will almost certainly be bolstered by characters not appearing in TF3, just as the first 2 movies' toy lines had extra characters. There are many Revenge of the Fallen and even Movie 1 characters still in demand for figure updates/upgrades, such as Voyager-class Bonecrusher, Scrapmetal and Scrapper figures for fans of the movie Constructicons, leader-class Blackout, and more great ideas that fans want. What are the odds that we'll see those TYPES of movie-universe characters added the TF3 toy line, even if not those specific examples? (Though we'd like to see those examples of course.)
3. - Some collectors have expressed concern that the main TF lines such as the Movie lines and Universe/Generations might be getting too complicated for key target audiences, specifically casual consumers and kids. We've heard things along the lines of "I'm a grown man and had problems with ROTF Leader Prime, how is my kid supposed to figure it out?" to "I gave 2008's New Camaro Bumblebee to a nephew and it still sits, half-transformed, at the bottom of a toy box." Obviously, sub-lines like Fast Action Battlers and Activators are supposed to address this problem, but they only appeal to specific younger audiences, not generally to the larger casual consumer base. How much of a concern is this for Hasbro? What does Hasbro do to combat these issues in the main lines without simplifying them to the point of alienating the core fanbase?
4. - Repaints have been a built-in aspect to the Transformers brand since the beginning of the line. Really, it's a line of thinking that's been a key part of Hasbro's business model since Mr. Potato-head and the original GI Joe. Fans know that if there's a new-mold figure, they can almost count on it getting repainted somewhere down the line, or even retooled into a new character. Whether it's the same character with a new deco, an existing character with new accessories, or a second all-new character from the mold, most figures get this treatment eventually. Has there been a figure that someone on the team really wanted to do a redeco/retool of, but it never made it to market, that is especially noteworthy, and why it didn't end up coming out?

Well, that's my question from the last thread, so it's got my vote.

1) Any plans to revisit ROTF or Movie 1 characters with all new toys for the upcoming TF3 line? A Voyager Bonecrusher and Scrapper have been on people's wishlists for a long time, especially for people who wanted more Constructicons. Scrapper had a great design and some of us wish he had more screentime so a toy would be "justified."

2) The redeco is an almost inevitable case for the TF line these days. If there's a new-mould toy, you can guarantee that somewhere down the line, it's going to get redecoed or retooled into a new toy--whether it's the same character with a new paint job or new weapons (Recon Ironhide), an homage to an old character (Banzai-Tron) or an entirely new character (ROTF Payload), it's bound to happen eventually. Has there been a recent figure, or one from lines past, that someone on the team really wanted to do a redeco/retool of, but one was never released, whether due to no room in the line, budget constraints, etc.? [Feel free to reword this one, it basically breaks down to "Any repaints you guys didn't do but wanted to?"]

3) Some collectors have expressed worry that the main TF lines (Universe, Generations, Movie, ROTF) might be getting too complicated for the target audience--children. I've heard things along the lines of "I'm a grown man and had problems with ROTF Leader Prime, how is my kid supposed to figure it out?" to "I gave 2008's New Camaro Bumblebee to a nephew and it still sits, half-transformed, at the bottom of a toy box." Is this a concern for Hasbro as well? Or are things like the Fast-Action Battlers and Activators lines supposed to "combat" this problem?

Wow, those are good questions. At least beyond "are we ever gonna get character X?".

The first is just a glorified "ME ONSLAUGHT WANT SCRAPPER NAO" but the second two are good from me. Always interested in the Things That Never Were, as I tend to be. The specific toy I had in mind, actually, was Cybertron Snarl--I kept waiting for the repaint, Dark Fangwolf came out in Japan, was hoping for something similar over here...and it never came. So I never got him. Then...well, Weirdwolf happened, so I guess he counts. Still want him.

The third is something legit I've seen people say, so.

Count me in for floppy swords and needlessly complex toys that make grown men cry.

Dom
-avoiding RotF Prime.

Y'know, about the complexity thing I can't help wondering if they're in some ways engineering these for older collectors. I mean here we are, 25 years later and they're still "interesting" to figure out.

The runs counter to their unwillingness to have too many recolors on the shelves at once, even if collectors demand said recolors.


Dom
-cuz kids love complex TFs.

Questions are due on Sunday. I'll be adding more to the top post as you guys suggest them. There are now 4 options.

At Comic-Con last month, I talked to Hasbro about the quality of answers we're getting, so let's see if that filters back to us in this next round.

Onslaught Six wrote:1) Any plans to revisit ROTF or Movie 1 characters with all new toys for the upcoming TF3 line? A Voyager Bonecrusher and Scrapper have been on people's wishlists for a long time, especially for people who wanted more Constructicons. Scrapper had a great design and some of us wish he had more screentime so a toy would be "justified."

This one is too specific and asks for future plans, both of which are on their "no" list for questions, so I'll rework it.

2) The redeco is an almost inevitable case for the TF line these days. If there's a new-mould toy, you can guarantee that somewhere down the line, it's going to get redecoed or retooled into a new toy--whether it's the same character with a new paint job or new weapons (Recon Ironhide), an homage to an old character (Banzai-Tron) or an entirely new character (ROTF Payload), it's bound to happen eventually. Has there been a recent figure, or one from lines past, that someone on the team really wanted to do a redeco/retool of, but one was never released, whether due to no room in the line, budget constraints, etc.? [Feel free to reword this one, it basically breaks down to "Any repaints you guys didn't do but wanted to?"]

I didn't want to do this one, it feels a little thin based on the underwhelming answer I'm sure we'll get, but I'll include it with a little rework.

3) Some collectors have expressed worry that the main TF lines (Universe, Generations, Movie, ROTF) might be getting too complicated for the target audience--children. I've heard things along the lines of "I'm a grown man and had problems with ROTF Leader Prime, how is my kid supposed to figure it out?" to "I gave 2008's New Camaro Bumblebee to a nephew and it still sits, half-transformed, at the bottom of a toy box." Is this a concern for Hasbro as well? Or are things like the Fast-Action Battlers and Activators lines supposed to "combat" this problem?

I'll add this with a reworking since that last question really is too much of an opening to get shot down by Hasbro.

Shockwave wrote:Y'know, about the complexity thing I can't help wondering if they're in some ways engineering these for older collectors. I mean here we are, 25 years later and they're still "interesting" to figure out.

Honestly, the most complaining I hear is from older collectors who haven't kept up with the line too much over the last decade, and now feel flustered that their kids can transform LC Starscream and they can't.

I vote for 1 and 4 at this point.